358 



HYBERNATION OF INSECTS. 



garden. Yet though these insects, which I shall shortly 

 advert to as exceptions to the general rule, were thus active, 

 the heat was not sufficient to induce their hybernating 

 brethren to quit their retreats. Removing some of the dead 

 bark of an old apple-tree, I soon discovered several insects in 

 their winter quarters. Of the little beetle Dromius quadri- 

 notatus, I found six or eight individuals, and all so lively, 

 that, though remaining perfectly quiet in their abode until 

 disturbed, they ran about with their ordinary activity as soon 

 as the covering of bark was displaced. The same was the 

 case with a colony of earwigs. Two or three individuals of 

 Dromius quadrimaculatus showed more torpidity. When 

 first uncovered, their antennae were laid back ; and it was 

 only after the sun had shone some seconds upon them that 

 they exhibited symptoms of animation, and, after stretching 

 out these organs, began to walk. Close by them lay a single 

 weevil (Anthonomus Pomorum), but in so deep a sleep that at 

 first I thought it dead. It gave no sign of life when placed 

 on my hand, quite hot with the exercise of digging ; and it 

 was only after being kept there some seconds, and breathed 

 upon several times, that it first slowly unfolded its rostrum, 

 and then its limbs. It deserves remark, that all these insects, 

 thus differently affected, were on the same side of the tree, 

 under a similar covering of bark, and apparently equally ex- 

 posed to the sun, which shone full upon the covering of their 

 retreat. 1 



All insects, however, do not undergo this degree of tor- 

 pidity. In fact, there are some, though but few, which can- 



1 Since writing the above, I have had another opportunity of confirming the 

 observations here made. The last week of January 1817, in the neighbourhood 

 of Hull, was most delicious weather — calm, sunny, dry, and genial — the wind 

 south-west, the thermometer from 47° to 52° every day, and at night rarely 

 below 40° ; in fact, a week much finer than we can often boast of in May : the 

 27th of the month was the most delightful day of the whole : the air swarmed 

 with Trichocera hiemalis, Psychodce, and numerous other Diptera, and the bushes 

 were hung with the lines of the gossamer-spider as in autumn. Yet, with the 

 exception of Aphodius contaminatus , I did not observe a single coleopterous 

 insect on the wing, nor even an individual tempted to crawl on the trunks of the 

 trees, under the dead bark of which I found many in a very lively state. Five 

 or six individuals of Haltica Nemorum were still very lethargic; and two of 

 Geotrupes stercorarius, which I accidentally dug up from their hybernacula in 

 the earth, at the depth of six or eight inches, though the Acari upon them were 

 quite alert, exhibited every symptom of complete torpor. 



